B
BACK of the post to BALANCE of the mizen
BACK of the post
BACK an anchor
BACK astern
BACK the sails
BACK-BOARD
BACK-STAYS
BADGE
BAGPIPE the mizen
To BALANCE
BALANCE of the mizen
BALANCE of the boom sail to BARK
BARNACLE to BEAMS
BEAMS to BED of a river
BED of a cannon to BIGHT
BILANDER to BLACK-STRAKES
BLADE to Trim the BOAT!
To bale the BOAT to BOLT-ROPE
BOMB to BOTTOM
BOTTOM to BOX-HAULING
BOXING to To BREAK-UP
BREAK-WATER to BRIDLES of the bowline
BRIG, or BRIGANTINE to Ship-BUILDING
Ship-BUILDING to BUNTINE
BUNTLINES to BUTTONS
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BACK the sails
To BACK the sails, (mettre à scier, Fr.) is to arrange them in a situation that will occasion the ship to retreat or move astern. This operation is particularly necessary in narrow channels, when a ship is carried along sidewise by the strength of the tide or current, and it becomes requisite to avoid any object that may intercept her course, as shoals, or vessels under sail or at anchor: it is also necessary in a naval engagement, to bring a ship back, so as to lie opposite to her adversary, when the is too far advanced in the line. See ABACK.
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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 27, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0097.html